Below are two decrees from Bishop Caggiano regarding the celebration of masses with collective intentions, and the assumption of governance in accord with canon 413.
Printable PDF: Decree Regarding the Celebration of Masses With Collective Intentions.
DECREE REGARDING
THE CELEBRATION OF MASSES WITH COLLECTIVE INTENTIONS
In order to ensure that the practice of celebrating Masses according to a collective intention is uniform throughout the Diocese of Bridgeport and consistent with the law, based on the instruction Mos iugiter, issued by the Congregation for Clergy in 1991, the following norms are to be followed by all priests who wish to celebrate a Mass with a collective intention.
1. According to canon 948, “separate Masses are to be applied for the intentions for which an individual offering, even if small, has been made and accepted.” Therefore, the priest who accepts the offering for a Mass for particular intention is bound ex iustitia to satisfy personally the obligation assumed or to commit it fulfillment to another priest, according to the conditions established by law.
2. It is permissible to celebrate a Mass in which multiple intentions can be satisfied in a single celebration of Mass according to a “collective” intention. if the following conditions are met: (1) the people making the offering have been previously explicitly informed and have freely consented to combining their offerings in a single offering,
(2) the day and time for the celebration of this Mass is clearly public and (3) there cannot be more than one such Mass celebrated each week, either on a weekday or Sunday in the Diocese of Bridgeport.
Regarding the stipends received for a Mass celebrated according to a collective intention, is licit for the celebrant to keep the amount of the offering established by the diocese. In terms of the Diocese of Bridgeport, this means that:
1. The celebrant may receive only $10 for each celebration of a collective Mass.
2. Further, the offering for each individual intention for a Mass celebrated in a “collective manner” is also $10.00.
For all offerings in excess of the amount given to the celebrant, pastors may choose one of three courses of action:
1. The annual amount exceeding the established offering for Masses celebrated in a “collective manner” can be sent to the Ordinary as specified in canon 951, par. 1, who will then supply them to the Propagation of the Faith for the celebration of Mass by priests in the missions.
2. The pastor may also send the annual amount exceeding the established offering for Masses celebrated in a “collective manner” to the Ordinary for distribution to retired priests and priests who are in non-parochial ministry in our own Diocese for the celebration of Mass.
3. The amount exceeding the established offering for Masses celebrated in a “collective manner” may also be set aside as restricted money to help defray annual costs associated with the care of the priests assigned to the parish. More specifically, costs related to the priest’s medical insurance and annual retirement assessment can be deferred in part by the money that remains undistributed to the celebrants from the celebration of Masses in a collective manner.
Any exception to the above provisions must be approved by me or my successor. I order that the provisions of this decree have firm and stable effect, notwithstanding anything to the contrary, even if worthy of special mention, and that they be promulgated as particular law by publication on the official diocesan website.
Furthermore, I order that the present provisions be duly communicated to all who are subject to them.
Given at the Catholic Center of Bridgeport on January 9, 2023.
Printable PDF: Decree Sede Vacante.
DECREE
In accord with canon 412 regarding a sede impedita, I make the following provision in the event that I am impeded in the governance of the Diocese of Bridgeport: In accord with canon 413, I designate Very Reverend Robert M. Kinnally, Vicar General, to assume governance of the Diocese for the duration of the impediment as prescribed by canon 414.
In the instance of sede vacante, I designate the above named priest to assume the governance of the Diocese until the College of Consultors has legitimately elected a Diocesan Administrator as provided in canon 426.
These provisions are effective immediately and any provisions to the contrary are abrogated.
Given at Bridgeport on 9 January 2023, the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord.
